* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Fengyun-2D

Blobrana · L

TLE Data

OBJECT A
1 29640U 06053A   06343.15555173  .00021508  00000-0  37174-2 0    62
2 29640 024.7949 079.6837 7310741 180.8007 176.1804 02.25578546    39

Expand (72kb, 600 x 360)

Blobrana · L

Fengyun-2D, China's new meteorological satellite launched on Friday, has successfully entered a quasi-synchronous orbit as directed by ground-control, according to the Xi'an Satellite Control Center.

Blobrana · L

China will launch another 22 meteorological satellites by 2020 after successfully putting Fengyun-2D (FY-2D), its second geostationary orbit meteorological satellite, into orbit on Friday.
The 22 satellites include four more from the Fengyun-2 series, 12 from the Fengyun-3 series and six Fengyun-4 series, according to sources with the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
Fengyun-2E, Fengyun-2F, Fengyun-2G and Fengyun-2H are scheduled to be launched in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 respectively.
The first two experimental models in the Fengyun-3 series, a new generation of polar-orbiting satellites, will be launched in 2007 and 2009. The other 10 will go into orbit from 2011 to 2018.
China will launch two experimental geostationary orbit Fengyun-4 models followed by four Fengyun-4 satellites from 2012 to 2019.
The FY-2D is expected to provide accurate and timely information about weather changes for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, especially the opening and closing ceremony and important contests.

"The satellite will monitor weather changes at all the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games venues. The FY-2D will provide accurate and timely information about weather changes to help us with weather forecasts during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, especially the opening and closing ceremonies and important contests" - Li Qin, chief designer of the FY-2D.

The latest launch is the 11th successful flight of the LM-3A carrier rocket.

Source Xinhua

Blobrana · L

China launched a Shanghai-made weather satellite, Fengyun-2D, at 8:53am (00:53 GMT) today with a Long March carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwestern Sichuan Province.
The 1.39-ton satellite, developed and manufactured by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, will offer weather information for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Li Qing, a researcher of the academy, said the satellite is responsible for reporting weather forecasts during the 2008 Olympic Games, especially the weather at the opening and closing ceremonies.
The satellite is positioned at 86.5 degree east longitude over the equator
The Long March 3A rocket placed the Fengyun-2D (FY-2D) into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
The spacecraft, with a mass of 1,390 kg, will operate at 86.5 degrees east in GEO to monitor weather conditions and collect data from the earth by infrared observation and visible light channels. It can serve as a backup satellite for Fengyun-2C, another weather satellite launched in 1994.
The spacecraft has a three-year on-orbit lifetime.

Source Shanghai Daily

Blobrana · L

China will launch its second geostationary orbit meteorological satellite, Fengyun-2 D on Dec. 8, according to the China Meteorological Administration.
Yang Jun, director of the National Satellite Meteorological Centre under the China Meteorological Administration, said that the Fengyun-2 D will form a twin-star observation system with Fengyun-2 C, China's first geostationary orbit weather satellite which was sent to orbit on Oct. 19, 2004.
The two satellites have their own observation tasks, and at the same time, they can stand by each other in case of malfunction of either of them.
The Fengyun-2 D will also enlarge the geostationary weather observation range and improve the forecast and monitoring on disastrous weather. In addition, China will launch the second-generation Fengyun 3 meteorological satellite in the second half of 2007.